PHIL334 Philosophy of Biology

The philosophy of the life sciences. Topics include the role of genes in development
and evolution, the concept of genetic information and alternatives to it, problems
in the practice of adaptive explanation, theoretical and moral issues surrounding
nature conservation and genetic modification.

Introduction - the nature of philosophy of biology. A quick primer
in evolutionary theory

What is an organism?

What is a species

Fitness

The
units of selection debate

The Evolution of development

What is high-level
selection?

Adaptationism, is it a bug or a feature?

What is biodiversity

Environmental
ethics meets philosophy of biology

Issues in ecology and philosophy

Historical
contingency and progress in evolution

What are biological and natural kinds?

Disparity
and paleontology

The sociobiology debate

What is cultural evolution?

Internal
assessment will count for 30% and will consist of one critical analysis of a scientific
paper worth 10% and one essay worth 20%. The critical analysis should not be more
that 1,500 words. The essay should be between 2,500 and 3,000 words.

The
final exam counts for 70%.

Teaching Arrangements

This paper is jointly taught with PHIL 405.

There are two lectures/seminars
per week, which consist of a mix of lecturing and group discussion.

Textbooks

Sterelny, K. and P. E. Griffiths (1999). Sex and death: an introduction to philosophy
of biology. Chicago, Ill., University of Chicago Press.